Free Delaware Negro in a State of Slavery

FREE DELAWARE NEGRO IN A STATE OF SLAVERY. - The suit of a free Delaware negro will take place in the State of North Carolina, in the month of November next, under the following circumstances: William Tillison was sold by order of the court of Kent County, for some crime or misdeamor, in 1840 for two months and one day. He was bought by Jacob R. Griffin. Mr. Griffin sold him to somebody; however nothing was heard of him until it was found he was in the possession of Mr. T.A. Vestal, of Waynesburg, North Carolina, who purchased him about eighteen months since for $1,700. Tillison ran away from Mr. Vestal, and was caught again. Upon Mr. Vestal asking him why he ran away, he insisted that he was free, which led that gentleman to write to Dover for the facts; he found, sure enough, that it was as Tillison, whose name had been changed to Tom Hyer, had stated - that he was legally entitled to freedom. This negro for the last twelve years has been unjustly held in slavery. We are informed by those who have the best opportunities of knowing, that at least a negro a week is sold out of the State of Delaware. As the law forbids the sale of slaves out of the State, unless by an order from the court, and as orders from the court for such sales do not reach a tithe of that number, the excess are either kidnapped or sold illegally. This information we do not get from an abolitionist, but from a gentleman who is a slave-holder himself, and whose frequent visits to slave prisons, in Baltimore and other places, have given him the very best opportunities of information. From all we have heard, we have not the least doubt that a great many slaves, who have the credit of running away from this State, have been convoyed on the back-track of the underground railroad-going to the South instead of the North.- Delaware Republican.